Culture Club

Biography

Harbingers of the so-called new pop that swept through the UK charts in the early 80s, Culture Club was formed by Boy George (George ODowd, 14 June 1961, Eltham, Kent, England; vocals), Roy Hay (b. 12 August 1961, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England; guitar/keyboards), Mikey Craig (b. 15 February 1960, Hammersmith, London, England; bass) and Jon Moss (b. 11 September 1957, Wandsworth, London, England; drums). The band came together in 1981 after George, a nightclub habitué, had briefly appeared with Bow Wow Wow (under the name Lieutenant Lush) and played alongside Craig in the Sex Gang Children. Drummer Moss had the most band experience having already appeared with London, the Damned and Adam Ant.

After failing an audition with EMI Records, Culture Club signed to Virgin Records in the spring of 1982, and released a couple of non-chart singles, White Boy and Im Afraid Of Me. By autumn of that...